Automatic grid winding machine



May 11, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ETAL 2,441,228

AUTOMATIC GRID WINDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1945 13 Sheets-5h66?l lATTORNEY NNN SQ May ll, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ET AL AUTOMATIC GRIDWINDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1945 15 Sheets-Sheet 2` MM. o MM ma@ o mvQq@ we@ N%\ May 11, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ETAL lAU'IOIVIA'I'IC GRIDWINDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR; 6er/za/a/ 6 Ich/ff der Ban/r .on ae ATTORNEY fl. Il

Il :.Mwik lll W////////// May 11, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ETAL 2,441,228

AUTOMATIC GRID WINDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1945 ATTORNEY May 11, 1948.G. G. SCHNEIDER ETAL AUTOMATIC GRID WINDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 194513 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY May l1, 1948. c. G. SCHNEIDER ETAL 2,441,228

AUTOMATIC yGRID WINDINGA MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1945 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 QMNS SQ A m@ @AQ QQ Il IILll-l May 11, 1948.

G. G. SCHNEIDER ETAL. 2,441,228 AUTOMATIC GRID WINDING MACHINE FiledAug. 8, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet '7 ow n. Tea N Na R Eh@ O v01/f Nb .T ..6 Aa Y ZB May 11, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ET AL 2,441,228

AUTOMATIC GRID WINDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1945 l5 SheetS-Sheer. 9

ATTORNEY May 1l, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ET Al. 2,441,228

AUTOMATIC GRID WINDING MACHINE Filed Aug. s, 1945 15 sheetsEsheet lo May1l, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ET AL 2,441,228

AUTOMATIC GRHID WINDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 1l"OMM uw ATTORNEY May 11, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ETAL 2,441,228

ATOMATIC GRID WINDING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Aug. 8, 19454v|||||1| hmm i mmm May 11, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ETAL 2,441,223

AUTOMATIC' GRID W-INDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1945 1,3 Sheets- Sheet 15ww@ 1mm QQ a kmw Nw ,Aww

l ENTORs ff/1 awa )Ic/Weider rfa/a .6. @ana/7m:

E y ATTORNEY liatenteci May 11, 1948 2,441,228 AUTOMATIC GRID WmDINGMACHINE Gerhard Gunther Schn hue, Maplewood, N.

cider and Frank L. Donoassgnors to National Union Radio Corporation,Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application August 8,

The present invention relates to an automatic grid winding machine, moreparticularly one adapted to wind grids of variable pitch.

An object oi the present invention is the provision of a grid windingmachine in which the sequence of work operations is such as to save timeand labor, produce better and uniform quality of product, and effect areduction in losses of stock materials.

Another object of the invention '1s to provide a machine capable ofproducing high precision grids, and grids of more wire turns per inch.Incidental to these features is the production of longer grid stripswhich materially increases the output of the machine.

Another object is the provision of a grid winding machine composed ofseparate, self-contained units or assemblies which are so coordinatedthat the various mechanisms operate in a manner so as to reduire aminimum of component parts in order to secure a wide variation in thepitch, length and character of the grids.

Another object is the provision of separate mechanisms organized asindividual assemblies which may constitute attachments to the mainmachine and perform characteristic functions. One such function is thewinding of loose turns of grid wire by suspending the notching andpeening operations for a predetermined length of the grid strip.Associated with this attachment may be a burn out mechanism whichautomatically severs the loose turns so that they may be easily removedfrom the grid strip when the later is cut into sections.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a variable gridwinding machine characterized by compactness and simplicity ofconstruction, designed to eliminate wear at vulnerable parts, and alsoafford a quick change in setup for going from one kind of grid toanother, as for example one having a variation in the number of turnsand/or length than what the machine may have been previously adjusted towind.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a gridwinding machine in which most of the operations are performedautomatically so the operatives attention may be directed a substantialpart of the time to the performance of related duties, but which areindependent of the operation of the machine.

Other objects of the invention have to do with details of construction,arrangement of parts, ease of replacement thereof, etc., all of whichfeatures cooperate to improve utility, speed of production, quality ofproduct, and other obvious 1945, Serial No. 609,564

30 Claims. (Cl. L10-71.5)

, at a predetermined speed, but

results, which will manifest themselves from a reading of the followingdescription.

The machine contemplated by the present invention comprises units ofmechanisms for the winding of grid strips, the characteristics of whichmay be varied by simple adjustments or changes of component parts ofcertain of the units. The machine performs sequential order and timedrelation, so that it is as near self-functioning as possible, wherebycontinuity of operation substantially approaches the optimum.

More specifically, the invention contemplates a grid winding machinehaving a spool carrying cradle located at the extreme lefthand end of amachine bed. This cradle may comprise a onepiece casting rotativelymounted upon a spindle through which support wires of theV grid stripare fed. Adjacent to the spool drum may be inserted a clutch mechanismwhich also includes a drive pulley secured to a drive shaft journaledina head stock. The power source may consist of a variable speed motorsuitably connected to the drive pulley mechanism. l

Comprising part of the general head stock assembly is a peening and anotching mechanism. Associated with this mechanism is a grid wire feedsub-assembly including tension devices, and a bracket for holding thespool of grid wire. Also cooperatively positioned with respect to thehead stock is a grid strip cut-off assembly.

There is provided a lead screw spindle which is driven at the speed ofthe main drive shaft. Within the spindle is a lead screw, and a lock nutassembly is provided for securing the lead screw to the spindle. Thelead screw is adapted to float in the nut assembly which is supported bytwo floating side bearings sliding on oppositely disposed stationaryshafts. The drive shaft arrangement is such that a ratchet gear traincontrols a cam system interposed between the ratchet mechanism and alead screw gear box assembly. The ratchet is mounted upon a drive shaftwhich is also connected to the lead screw spindle; thus the ratchet andthe lead screw spindle are operated in unison. The ratchet operates agear train which rotates a shaft of the cam system makes one completerevolution per grid. By proper selection of the gears in the ratchetgear box and in the lead screw gear box, variations in the number ofturns of grid wire per grid and also variationsin the turns per inch,(t. p. 1.), may be effected. e lead screw spindle carries a grid clampwhich-is normally insulated from the machine and adapted to be includedin an electrical heating circuit for purpose mentioned hereinafter,

At the completion of the winding of the grid strip, the windingoperation is automatically stopped through the release of a leveractuated by a micro-switch. A control circuit arrangement causes currentto now through the grid clamp and the grid strip. This heats and effectsthe automatic stretching of the grid strip, the operation beinggenerally referred to as hot stretching, the purpose being to relieveany strains produced in the grid strip by the winding operation.

For making changes in the length, and also the turns per inch, of thegrid, the cross section thereof, etc., several unitary mechanisms areprovided. For example, the length of the grid having a given number ofturns per inch, may be adjusted by a gears in the ratchet and the leadscrew gear trains, which are operatively related to each other throughan interposed cam system.

The cross section of the grid may be determined by the proper selectionof a mandrel inserted in the nose of the head stock spindle. Thenotching or no-notching of the grid support wires is' controlledautomatically. A burn-off mechanism may be provided for automaticallyburning oi the grid wire at the start and termination of the loose turnsso as to relieve the operative of the necessity of cutting away suchloose turns as was the practice heretofore.

A more complete understanding of the invention will be had as thedescription proceeds. Referring to the drawings in which a preferredform of the invention is illustrated;

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, showing the general assembly, withparts broken away, of a grid winding machine, embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view oi Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of the spool carrying cradle, drive clutch,head stock and notching and peening device;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 3-12 of Fig.,3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, on the line 5-5 ofFig. '7, of the head stock spindle showing the support wires guidedtherein;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-S of Fig, 5;

Fig. 9 is an end view of Fig. 5 as viewed from the right;

Fig. 10 is a greatly enlarged view, section, of the grid mandrel,notching, ing wheels, and the grid Wires; s

Fig. 11 is a section on the line H-H of Fig. 10 showing the method ofsupporting the grid mandrel in the head stock spindle;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2-i2 of Fig. 10 showing the notchingand peening wheels in relation to the grid mandrel and supported wires;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail of an alternative form of grid mandrel;

Fig, 14 is an end view of Fig. the left; Fig. 15 is an end view of Fig.the right;

Fig. 16 is a detail of the grid wire assembly in relation to the headstock, notching and peening Wheels, and knife cut-off;

Fig. 17 is a side view of the grid wire Fig. 18 is a perspective view ofthe guide;

v Fig. 19 is a planv view of variable pitch cam assembly and associatedparts;

partly in and peen- 13 as viewed from 13 as viewed from assembly; gridwire Fig. 20 is a section on the line 2i3-20 of Fig. 19, showing detailsof the ratchet gear box, parts broken away;

Fig. 2l a side elevational View of the eccentric varrangr-:ment foroperating the ratchet pawls;

Fig. 22 is a section on the line 22--22 of Fig. 19, showing inparticular the variable pitch cam assembly;

Fig. 23 a side view of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a plan View showing hot stretch', lead screw, lock-nutassembly and lead screw gear box assembly;

Fig. 25 is a side elevation including the hot stretch device and partsof the tail stocli assembly, parts being broken away;

Fig. 26 is a section on the line Bti-2t of Fig. 24 showing the lock nutassembly;

Fig. 27 is an enlarged sectional view of the lock-nut and lead screw;

Fig. 23 is a section on the line 25"!3 of Fig. 27;

Fig, 29 is a rear view of the means for releasing the loch-nut and alsofor operating the cutting knives;

Fig. 3i) is a section on the line Sii- 39 29 showing in dotted lines thelock-nut;

Fig. 3l is a section on. the line 3i-3| of Fig. 29 showing the cut-oli?knife operation in dotted lines;

Fig. 32 is a section on line 32-32 of Fig, 24, as viewed from the left;

Fig. 33 is a vertical sectional View of the lead screw gear boxassembly, taken on line 33 of Fig. 32;

Fig. 3e is a section on the line Sri-*fili of Fig. 33;

Fig. 35 is a section on the line of Fig. 32;

Fig. 3o is a iront perspective view showing the location and generalconstruction of the nonotching mechanism and loose wire burn-offattachment;

Fig. 37 is a rear perspective view showing principally the cam systemfor operating the nono-tching, cutting and peening mechanism;

Fig. 38 is a side elevation, partly in section, with associate parts, ofthe no-notching mechanism;

Fig. 39 is a sectional Sii- 3S of Fig. 3S;

Fig. l0 is an elevational view of Fig. 33, in the direction of the arrowoi the no-notching mechanism illustrated in Fig. 38;

Fig. i1 is a transverse sectional view of the burn-or mechanism;

Fig. 42 is a section, taken on the line 2-42 of Fig, 41;

Fig. i3 is an elevational View, looking from the left of Fig. /ll

if: is a schematic wiring burn-off circuit arrangement;

Fig. 45 is a wiring diagram of trol circuit connecting machine;

Fig. 4.6 is a wiring diagram oi the circuit forming part of thehot-stretch assembly;

Fig. 47 is an elevational view on a large scale of a grid strip as ithomes from the machine, the intermediate portions thereof being brokenout;

Fig. 48 is an elevational View of grid, the grid wires all having theand Fig. i9 is an elevational View of an individual grid in which someof the grid wires have a variable pitch.

of Fig. release of the plan view, on the line diagram of the 'the clutchcondriving power to the hot-stretch an individual same pitch;

From the above it is obvious that a machine embodying the presentinvention is composed of a. number of separate units which are operatedin sequence, thus producing a flow of operations.

For the sake of convenience certain of these units or sub-assemblieswill be described in their entirety and, wherever feasible, in the orderin which they function. In that manner the operations of the machinewill unfold itself so that a brief general description will suffice tomake clear how the machine may be continuously operated and variationsin the characteristics of the grid eiected.

In describing the machine, for the sake o convenience in identifying theseveral assemblies and sub-assemblies, legends are applied to Figs. 1and 2 because these figures illustrate the main machine assembly; byidentifying these assemblies with legends the location and/orarrangement thereof is more easily appreciated. Throughout the drawingscorresponding reference characters are applied to corresponding partsbut wherever space permitted, legends are also used to indicateimportant elements in the main combina-- tion of the several units.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, itwill be noted that the machine bed or chassis consists of a sturdy Ibeam I of sufficient length to permit the parallel mounting thereon ofthe various castings for the several machine units. For the purpose ofalignment and to facilitate the mounting of the units, the I beam isprovided with a centrally arranged longitudinal keyway. This `permitsthe sub-assemblies to be keyed to the center keyway over the entirelength of the machine bed I.

The machine bed I may be mounted upon the top of a table 2 which tablemay take the form of a cabinet having side drawers (not shown) fortools, parts and grid trays which are accessories of the machine.

At the extreme left-hand end of the machine there is provided a spooldrum assembly including a cradle 3, preferably a one-piece steelcasting, journaled in support members 4 and 5 having needle bearings(see Fig. 3). The journal for the bearing 4 may comprise a hub 6 formedintegrally with the cradle 3 while the journal for the bearing 5 mayconsist of a spindle 1, having a center bore and provided withoppositely disposed peripheral grooves, so that the grid supassembly, ashereinafter more fully described. The outer end of the spindle 1 hassecured thereto one face of a flexible coupling I2, which couplingconnects the spool drum assembly to a source of power as presentlydescribed.

Mounted laterally in the cradle 3 are spools 8 of grid support wires I0,which spools may be rotatively supported by any conventional meanspermitting adjustment laterally; said means in itself forming no part ofthe present invention. The spool drum may be provided with a hingedcover 9, preferably transparent, to afford protection and visibilitywhile the cradle 3 is rotating. For the convenience of opening andclosing of the cover 9, a knob II is secured thereto.

A head stock assembly is mounted adjacent the spool drum assembly andhas associated with it several sub-assemblies which are coordinated andperform sequential operations that make the general head stock assembly,including its associated assemblies, an important part of the machine.

The head stock may be of any conventional design including a base havingformed integrally therewith upright members I5 provided with rollerbearings into which is iitted a spindle It. The head stock spindle I(see Figs. 5 to 9) is provided with a sleeve It having braced orotherwise secured to the ends thereof sleeves 2l which are of reduceddiameter or stepped down to provide bearing surfaces when the spindle ismounted in the head stock. The ends of the spindle I6 extend beyond theends of the head stock and the right-hand end of thD spindle is providedwith a socket or nose portion I3 adapted to receive a mandrel 33. Thespindle I6 has oppositely disposed longitudinal grooves 2'I foraccommodating the support wires II) which are fed from the spools d.These grooves are used in feeding the grid support wires when the gridstrip is of substantial width, but for the smaller sized grids thesupport wires It may be threaded through the hollow core provided in thespindle I6. This permits the use of large and small support wires,widely and closely spaced, respectively.

The grid mandrel Sii, having a steel shank 25 and a tungsten tip 33, isinserted in the socket or nose I3 of the spindle I6 and is secured inplace by suitable locking members. These locking members may take theform o stud screws 3l mounted in threaded apertures 32 and adjustabletherein in any suitable manner, as for example having a countersunkrecess in the head of each screw adapted to be engaged by a wrench sothat the screw members 3l may be moved inwardly or outwardly withrespect to the axis of the mandrel 3l). This arrangement provides aclose fit between the mandrel 3G and spindle I6, yet allows sufficientadjustment by means of the screws 3l to align properly the mandrelwithin the spindle.

The tip end 33 of the mandrel is shaped to conform to the connguraticnof the grid; in cross-section it may be oval-shaped as shown in Fig. l2or diamond-shaped as shown in Fig. 15, depending upon the type of gridit is desired to Wind by a given setting of the machine. It is obviousthat the size and shape of the mandrel tip 33 determines theconfiguration of a given grid; also, that the mandrel 3d may be easilyand quickly changed when desired.

By reference to Figs. i0 to 15 it will be noted that the rear end of themandrel 3Q is bevelled and the apertures 35i, through which the supportwires I0 are led through the shank 25 of the mandrel, are provided withflares in order to facilitate the feeding of the support wires throughthe mandrel Openings; further the edges of the mandrel tip are providedwith grooves suitable to accommodate the support wires and the tip alsofunctions as an anvil during the notching and peening operations.

On the left-hand end of the spindle I6 is mounted the opposing face ofthe ilexible coupling I2 whereby connection is made between the spindles1 and I6. A hand wheel I'I is carried by the spindle I6 and is providedwith a truncated cone-shaped recess I8 adapted to engage with acomplementarily formed frictional surface I9 on a pulley 23. Thesurfaces I3 and I9 provide clutching means for transmitting power toseveral of the various assemblies including the spool cradle 3. The handwheel I'I is secured to the spindle I6 by a sunk oblong keyseat (seeFig. 5). This arrangement permits reciprocation of the wheel I1 on thespindle I6 by a forked member 24, which is suitablypivoted on the headstock f5 and actuated by a clutch operating mechanism hereinafter to bedescribed. The forked member 2A engages a grooved extension on the hubof the hand wheel i 7, the engagement 5 being effec ed by suitable pinor linger members which normally idle in the groove while the hand wheeli? is rotating. For normally keeping the clutch surfaces i3 and te inengagement a plurality of compression springs Ed are provided. Thesesprings are confined between a rotatable collar 523 and the hub of thehand wheel i1. A driving belt passes over the pulley 2i) and anotherpulley all which is driven by the variable speed motor e2.

operatively positioned with respect to the mandrel 353 is a grid wirefeed assembly (see Figs. i6 to 18). This assembly includes an over-headbracket suitably mounted on top of the head stock and comprisingoppositely disposed supports having bearings "or shaft members 3l and 38between which is suspended an adjustable arbor terminating incone-shaped bearings 35) and all. A spool of grid wire '55, may beproperly positioned with relation to a guide system coniH prising idlersl5 supported upon a rack member designated generally by the referencecharacter da, and including fastening and tensioning means (see Fig.17). To prevent over-running of the spool i3 which may be caused by aPlange in spese 30 or operation, an adjustable resilient braking devicel? (see Figs. 1G and 17) is provided which may be of any conventionalform that pe mits a change in tension of a brake band, and conn sequentchange in braking power applied to spool 13. The foregoing arrangementprovides an over-head feed for the grid wire, ing it out of theoperatives way.

The grid wire fill .is fed from the spool 13 through the wire feedidlers over pad member 48 (see i8) of felt or the like a guide iinger 45onto the grid support wires. By having the pad lil of absorbingmaterial, means are thus provided for lubrica ng the gr l wire as it isfed past the guide iin-ger when for the sake of durability is made or"tungsten or provided with a tungsten tip. Since the support wires l@move from left to right with. spect to the guide finger le the grid wirethus maintained in Contact with the nger For regulating the height ofthe pad and finger 33, with respect to the adjustable bracketconstruction i 17) is provided, the manipulation ol obvious to thoseskilled in the art.

As forming part of the general head sembly are notching peening by therespective Support wires notched, the grid wire inserted in said andthen peened to the support wir. struction of the notching and may bebest understood by referir 12, 16 and 17. A notching wheel is carrie. bya bifurcated bracl-et member which is adapted to be actuated by a cameonstiuction (hereinafter more fully described) gage and disengage thesupport wires iii. a somewhat similar manner the pe ning wheel 53 ismounted oppositely the notching wheel 5l but in staggered relationthereto; i. e the notohing wheel i being slightly ad peening wheel andthe grid wire it therebetween, so that the sequence of operationsrelative to these members is notching and peenlng.

ing wheel 53 is supported from one arm of the lever 5t while the otherarm thereof is provided with an adjustable mechanism that includes ablock member 5? carrying a screw member 53 ter-- minating in acone-shaped base, the .member 58 being adjustable vertically in theblock member 57 by a thread arrangement so that the peeping wheel 53 maybe operatively positioned with respect to the mandrel 3l?.

That is to say, the downward movement of the block member 5l' is limitedby the adjustment of screw the lower end of which engages a suitablestop 5i-l (see Fig. 37) and is maintained in contact therewith by atension spring 55. This arrangement retains the proper adjustmentof thepeening wheel with respect to the grid mandrel 3@ so that when the sizeof the mandrel is changed, or loose turns added or removed, the peeningwheel 53 may be suitably adjusted to meet such changes. The member :Tlactuated by a cam 73 secured to the cam shaft 69 and hav-- ing a risethat contacts a cam roller '.5 carried by the member l l. When theroller T5 engages the cam rise le the peening wheel 53 is moved so as todisengage the support wires ill, thus omitting periodically the peepingoperations for reasons hereinafter apparent. The adjustment of the camroller 15 and also the screw member 58 is sufficiently elastic to permitthe use of a considerable range in the size and shape of the mandrel Thetension of the spring is sucient to hold effectively the peening wheelagainst the support wires Sil during the peen ing operation. To insurethe proper tension on the spring Eli, an adjusting screw elem 1sattached to the lower end of said spi y manipulation of the screw 29 anydesi d tension of the spring 55 may be secured.

It will of course be understood that for .making continuously wound gridstrips the notching wheel 5i and the eening wheel 53 are constant-l f inoperative position with respect to the support wires itl and when thusfunctioning there is no variation in the pitch of the grid or any looseturns provided; i. e., the grid strip is continuously wound with tightturns having no variation pitch. To obtain variation in pitch, as wel!as winding loose turns, cam operated assemblies or attachments arebrought into service as hercinafter explained.

A ratchet gear box assembly is mounted to the right, and rearwardly ofthe notching and been ing devices (see Figs. i9 and 20). The gear boxproper may be a conventional two-piece inelesure Eil, one section ofwhich is hinged to the other and the uuhinged section is provided with abracket supporting arm attached to the chine bed l. Mounted within thegear hof: fifi is a train or The train includes a double ratchet lilsuitably meshed with an interN mediate gear carried on the saine shaftis a second intermediate gear which t 'l meshes with a, driven gear Theintermediate gears 52 and 53 are carried by a linkage con structioncomprising a slotted link member pivoted at its lower end and having itsupper end movable in an arcuate race l2. Any sort of suitable fasteningmeans, such as a bolt "l5, secures the link e5 in an adjusted position.The slot in the link permits thelongitudinal movement of the gears 62and 63 with respect to said link, so that any size intermediate lgearsratchet 8| and the driven link 85 and with respect may be mated with thegear 64, by pivotally adjusting the also moving the gears 62 and 63 tothe slot in said link 65.

The ratchet 6| is driven by an arrangement of double pawls 68 which aremounted exteriorly of the gear box 68. For operating the pawls 88 so asto rotate the ratchet 6I in a clock-wise direction, we provide a doubleeccentric construction mounted upon the shaft 18, said constructionincluding a pair of eccentrics 1| individually arranged With respect tothe double pawls 88; the eccentrics 1 are substantially disposed at 188degrees on the shaft 18. Flanged collars 12 (see Fig. 19) suitablysecured to the shaft 18, are positioned against the outer surfaces ofeach of the eccentrics 1I, whereby the pawls 88 are maintained inoperative relation with respect to the ecoentrics 1 I. The several pawls8B are maintained in engagement with the ratchet 6| by a tension spring81 (see Fig. 28) one end of which is fastened to the to an anchor member68. The shaft 18 is driven from the spindle I6 by gearing indicated at18 in Figs. 3 and 19.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that as the shaft 18 rotates, theeccentrics 1| alternately move the arms of the pawls 88 upwardly, thusrotating the ratchet 6 I, a notch at a time for each upward movement ofeach pawl, and by the sequence of operation of the two pawls E8, the armof one reaches the end of its stroke while the arm of the other pawl isat the lower end of its stroke. By this arrangement, the ratchet 6| isactuated step by step, and by selecting the proper set of change gearsthe cam shaft 69 may be rotated at a predetermined R. P. M., which shaftin turn controls the number of total turns (loose and tight) per grid,as will presently be explained. 1t is important to note in passing thatby adding the quick change gear box to the double pawl ratchet feed, anynumber of turns per grid from to 250, can be secured by changing thegears without changing the ratchet which eliminates many costlyratchets.

A tail stock assembly comprising a tail stock 88 (see particularly Figs.1, 2, and 19) mounted on the machine bed I in any suitable manner isprovided with anti-friction bearings 84, preferably ball bearings, toallow for take up to eliminate any end play of a lead screw spindle 82which is journaled therein. The spindle 82 is reciprocally mounted withrespect to the machine bed and is moved forwardly (to the left) manuallyand backwardly (to the right) automatically by being locked to a nutassembly comprising a loci: box referred to generally by the referencecharacter 83 (see Fig. 24). The lock nut box 83 constitutes a housingfor the lock nut assembly parts including a ball bearing Bd forjournaling the right hand end of the lead screw spindle 82. The end ofthe spindle 82 extends through the bearing 88, and carries thereon acollar 85, which may be secured by set screws adapted to fit threadedapertures in the collar 85 and engage holes provided in the spindle 82.This construction permits the spindle 82 to rotate in the bearings 8|and 84, independently of a lead screw 99 which is concentric with thespindle 82 and has one end thereof mounted in a gear box |88,hereinafter described. Incidentally, it may be noted that a lubricatingmember 86 is provided for lubrication of the bearing 84, said memberbeing one of a pressure fitting system with which the machine isequipped for uniform lubrication.

By a lock nut construction mounted in the box 83 (see Figs. 26 to 28),the spindle 82 may be locked to the lead screw. The essentialcharacteristics of the lock nut mechanism may comprise a pair of splitlock nuts 9| which are opened and closed by a cam 92 provided with slots93 arranged to accommodate pins 94. The cam 92 is controlled manually byhand lever 95 and automatically by lever 98. The lock nuts 9| andthreaded exactly alike and there is one thread on the lead screw foreach turn per inch. The lock nuts 9| when closed are held in engagementwith the leadscrew 98 by means of compression springs 81.

By this arrangement the lead screw 98 is adapted to float in the locknut box 83, which latter is supported by two floating side bearings 91,sliding on oppositely disposed stationary shafts 98. The lead screwspindle 82 is driven at the speed of the drive shaft 18 by means of apair of gears 99 having a ratio of unity and housed within the tailstock 88 (see Fig. 19). Since the lead screw 98 has a floatingconnection with the spindle 82, these members may be driven at differentspeeds, the purpose of which will hereina-fter be explained. It isobvious, however, from the above that as the lead screw 98 revolves, thelock nut assembly rides unidirectionally from one end of the lead screwto the other, thus carrying the spindle 82 away from the mandrelposition.

A coil type tension spring III (see Fig. 33), having one of its endssecured to the right-hand end of the lead screw 98 and its other endattached to an adjusting nut ||2, is carried on the end of the spindle|82. By this means, the lead screw 98 is normally tensioned toward thegear box |88 so that, in a subsequent operation hereinafter described,the lead screw 98 is pulled under the tension of spring I II to effect astretching of the grid strip during the hot stretch operation.

Referring particularly to Figs. 32 to 35 it will be seen that there isprovided a lead screw gear box |88 which may be generally similar to theratchet gear box 88 in that it comprises two sections, one section ofvwhich is hinged to the other and the box thus formed is fixedlysupported on the machine bed I. Mounted within the box is a gear trainand a bearing for the lead screw 98. The gear train includes arelatively large lead screw gear |8| (see Figs. 33 and 34) carried uponthe end of a spindle |82 which in turn is journaled in roller bearings|83 mounted in the gear box |88. The drive shaft 18 extends into thegear box |88 and has mounted on the end thereof a driving gear |84, thelatter meshing with a pair of intermediate gears and |86. rIhe gear |88is part of a linkage construction comprising a slotted link member |81pivoted at one and movable at the other end in an arcuate race |88. Bymeans of a bolt |89 the link |81 is held in an adjusted position and aquick change of gears may be effected by loosening the bolt |89 andsubstituting the desired intermediate gears |85 and |88 required for agiven number of lateral turns of the wire per grid length. Meshing withthe lead screw gear |8| and secured to the same stud as gear |86 is aspur gear I|8. By means of this gear system the speed of the lead screw98 may be regulated so that the turns per inch (t. p. i.) of the gridwire may be controlled.

Intermediate the ratchet gear box assembly and the lead screw gear boxassembly is a variable pitch cam assembly which may be referred togenerally by the numeral I|5 (see Figs. 19 and 22 for example). Thefunction of this cam. as-

sembly is loose turns o ti'e grid wire at and also for variations in thepitch oi' the lateral windings comprising a single grid.

Asexplained previously the head end of the cam shaft GQ, by a properselection or gears, `causes the cam shaft to be driven at a preselectedspeed. On the end of the cam shaft @El is mounteda bevelled gear iiwhich meshes at right angles with another similar gear li'i. rIhe gear||1'` is carried by a cam structure including cams ||8 and iii?. Thesecams are supported by a stud shaft |26 rotatively mounted in the arms ofa bracket member 52|. The surface of the cam i i8 is adapted to engagethe shaft here-- tofore mentioned, while the surface of the cam H9engages a shaft ld, each of said shafts carrying at its extremity a camroller |26 and 25 respectively; (see Fig. 23).

The cam |25 through its control of the shaft |23 actuates suitablemechanism hereinafter described whereby the lead screw d@ is effected tochange'the formation of the winding, i. e., the pitch between theindividual grids on the grid strip and also for variations in the pitchof the lateral windings comprising a single individual grid.

The spindle 82 carries a grid clamp |313 at its left hand end or the endremote from the gear The grid clamp is illustrated in Figs. 2, 19 and 25and comprises a pair of pivoted jaws |3| having a manually controlledhandle |32y which is capable of being manipulated to grasp the ends ofthe supporting wires le when the spindle has been manually moved to theleft and to releasev the ends of the supporting wires after the spindlehas been automatically moved A for reasons hereinafter apparent isinsulated from the spindle 82.

During the Winding of the ical strains are set up in the grid strip,mechanis pivoted at ist on a pin mounted in a block |31 which is fast tothe shaft |23 which carries the cam roller |25. The pin |36 also carriesa cam |38 which in the normal position as shown in Fig. 24 engages a pin|33 carried by a shaft |46. The shaft It!) has a slid ing engagementwith the block |31 and a strong spring |4| is interposedY between theblock and a collar or other suitable stop |42 affixed to the shaft |40.When the pin |39 is on the high part of the cam as shown in Fig. 24 theshafts 23 and HH)` are held in abutting relation to each other againstthe pressure of the spring 5| and lateral 12 movement between the twoshafts will be prevented when the cam roller |25 engages the variablepitch cam H3.

The shaft |46 has a bearing in the lead screw gear box |69 and adjacentthe gear box |08 has an arm |43 attached thereto. The free end of thearm |43 has a bearing |44 for the lead screw til and longitudinalmovement of the arm and its shaft I4@ will permit of longitudinalmovement of the lead screw 9i] to vary the pitch of the winding. Thebearing |451 of the arm |43 fits over a sleeve |135 in the lead screwgear box |09. The lead screw is secured to this sleeve and the sleeve issplined to another sleeve U36 which is driven by the lead screw gearISI, see Figs. 33 and 34. In this manner the lead screw may be movedlongitudinally without interfering with its rotational movement.

When the hand lever |35 is moved forward or to the left as viewed inFig. 24 the cam |38 is moved in a clockwise direction and the cam rolleror pin |39 may enter the depressed portion of the cam permitting theshaft |40 to move to the right under the influence of the spring thenormal position with the cam roller |39 on the high part of the cam thearm |43 holds the lead screw de in a position to relieve pressure andrestrain the pull of the spring on the lead screw while the grid stripis being wound.

A microswitch operating lever |50, which is pivoted at |5|, is held inposition by a spring |52. When the hand lever |35 is moved to the leftit causes the lever l5@ to operate the microswitch |53 permittingcurrent to flow through contact ilil, contact arm |55, and the metaldisc |51 forming part of the grid clamp |36 which as heretofore statedis insulated from the spindle 82 and lead screw Sii, and thence into thegrid strip.

.Ey this means the grid strip is suitably heated to relieve all strainsproduced by the winding operation, and as mentioned above the lead screwunder the tension of spring i il retracts the screw by pulling ittowards the lead screw gear box, thus stretching the support wires whichstraightens the same and overcomes any tendency to warp or twist. As thegrid strip is stretching the cam roller i3d is moving into the depressedportion of the cam |38.

A second microswitch operating lever |62 is pivoted on the pin or camroller |39 and the movement of the cam roller while the grid strip isstretching results in a contact member |63 under the influence of thelever |62 causing the microswitch le!! to function to break the circuitafter sufcient heat has been supplied. The microswitch |64 is adjustablymounted so that more or less hot stretch may be applied depending uponthe materials of which the grid is made and the dimensions of the grid.

After the hot stretching has been completed the hand lever |35 is movedback to its midway position as shown part of the block |31.

Figure i6 illustrates a simple Wiring diagram showing' the microswitches|53 and |84, transformer |61, rheostat |558 and relay |69.

Figure 47 illustrates a grid strip having its intermediate portionbroken out and is drawn on a large scale. Grid strips made on themachine of the invention are long in comparison to those made onmachines of the prior art. From an inspection of Fig. 41 it will benoted there is a series of closely wound portions |10 alternated with aseries of loosely wound portions |1| in which the pitch of the gridwires is varied; i. e., the strands of grid wire are widely separatedfrom each other. The closely wound portions have been inserted intonotches in the support wires I and peened therein as heretoforedescribed. On the other hand the lengths of the support wire on whichthe loose windings of the grid wire are made are not notched nor peened.

After the grid strip has been removed from the ymachine it is cut intoshort lengths as shown in Fig. 48 to form the individual grids, a cutbeing effected between each of the i'lnely wound portions. A burn-offassembly hereinafter described severs the grid wire at each end of theclosely wound portions. Thus when the grid strip is cut up as abovedescribed the loosely wound portions will drop off or may be easilypulled off. These portions being waste product, obviously considerablesaving of material is eiected by having the loose portions coarselyspaced; also saving in time of the operative is eiected.

The variation in pitch, between the loose and tight turns of the gridwire is eiected by the following mechanism. The variable pitch cam ||9(see Fig. 19) is geared up to make one revoiution for each individualgrid. Immediately upon coming to the end of a closely wound section thecomposite shait which is made up of the shafts |23 and |40 described inconnection with the hot stretch assembly are moved to the right or inthe direction in which the grid strip is travelling during the Windingoperation, this operation being effected by the variable speed camthrough the shafts |23 and |40 and the arm |43 (see Fig. 24). The rateoi speed of the longitudinal movement of the grid strip during thewinding of the loose turns is thus accelerated; on the other hand thespeed (t. p. i.) at which the grid wire is being wound on the supportwires being maintained constant, obviously fewer turns of loose wire areused for a given distance.

The variable pitch cam ||9 also permits of variations in the pitch ofone or more grid wires at one or more intervals in the individual grid.Such a grid. is illustrated in Fig. 49, the normal closely wound turnswith the same pitch being illustrated at |15 and the turns with thevariable pitch being indicated at |16.

In winding an individual grid with portions having a variable pitch thepeening wheel 53 gets out of time with the notching wheel 5|. Tocompensate for this condition, i. e., synchronize them, the cam ||8through the camV roller |24 moves the shaft 54 which in turn moves thebracket 50 carrying the peening wheel 53. By virtue of this constructionit is assured the peening wheel will at all times during the winding ofvariable turns oi grid wire in an individual grid be in proper relationto the notching wheel properly to perform its function.

It has been heretofore described how the peening wheel is moved out ofengagement with the support Wires l0 during the winding of the looseturns. It is also important to have the notching wheel moved away fromthe support wires l0 during the winding of the loose turns, This isparticularly desirable in order to insure the terminals of theindividual grid being smooth and unmarred in addition to permitting ofthe easy removal of the loose turns. The mechanism for adjustablymounting the notching wheel and automatically moving it out ofengagement with the supporting wire |0 is particularly illustrated inFigs. 3'1, 38, 39 and 40.

As heretofore mentioned, the notching wheel 5| is carried by abifurcate'd bracket 52. The bracket 52 comprises a pair of ears formedon the under side of a frame member |11. The frame member |11 is movablelaterally in relation to a plate |10 which is carried on a short spindle19 supported for vertical adjustment in a collar lii which in turn iscarried by an arm |8| formed on the headstock I5. Vertical adjustmentto. compensate for different widths of grid strip is eiected throughmanip-ulation of the thumb screw |82 and after the proper adjustment ofthe notching wheel 5| in relation to the grid strip has been attainedthe spindle |19 is tighterred in the collar by a clamp screw |83 passingthrough suitable ears in the collar. The notching wheel may be adjustedto obtain the proper longitudinal relationship to the peening wheel bymoving the collar on the arm |8|.

The frame member |11 has another pair of ears 84 secured to it or formedas part thereof and pivoted therein is one end of a link |85, the otherend of which is pivote-d at |96 to a lever |81. It will be noted thelinls |95 is of a two part construction having a slot and boltconnection between the two parts to permit of shortening or lengtheningthe link when adjustments of the notching wheel position are made. Thelever 81 is pivoted at |09 to an arm or extension secured to or formingpart of the ratchet gear box 00.

The lever itil carries a cam follower which is heid in engagement withthe cam |9| by a spring 92. The cam |9| is carried by the cam shaft 69which as heretofore stated is given one revolution for each completegrid. As the high spot i955 of the cam engages the cam follower |90 itwill be apparent the notching wheel 5| is moved to the left as viewedfrom Fig. 38 and it will thus be out of engagement with the grid stripwhen the loose wires are being wound and the support wires |0 of thegrid strip Will not be notched at this time,

As heretofore mentioned an automatic loose wire burn-off attachmentforms part of the machine contemplated by the present invention. Theburn-ori` attachment burns or severs the grid wire at the juncture orJfirst strand |91 of each loose winding, and the beginning strand |91 ofeach tight winding, or at points more particularly indicated by thearrows in Fig. 4'1. Thus as heretofore stated, after the grid strip hasbeen out into lengths to form the individual grids as shown in Figs. 48and 49, the loose winding may be removed with a minimum of effort. Theautomatic burn-ofi assembly is particularly illustra-ted in Figs. 3G,4l, 42, 43 and 44.

The burn-oir attachment comprises a pair of needles 200 and 20| mountedin ears 202 which are adjustably secured to studs 203 carried by acollar 204. This adjustment permits of the points or the needles beingbrought closer together or move-d further apart when it is desired tochange the point of burn-out. The needles are also longitudinallyadjustable in relation to the ears 202. This adjustment is eiiected whenthe pitch of the grid is changed.

The collar 204 is fast to a short shaft 205 to

